National Cancer Institute

at the National Institutes of Health

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (F32)

The NCI Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows F32 Award supports promising postdoctoral applicants who have the potential to become productive and successful independent cancer research investigators. NCI requires a clear cancer focus in research training.

The primary sponsor must be the Principal Investigator (PI) of an R01, or R01-like, peer-reviewed cancer-related research grant at the time of application and at the time of award. For the NCI F32 Award, R01-like research funding includes peer-reviewed research grants from other federal sources and private foundations with a duration of at least 3 years with a minimum of $150,000 direct costs per year. The primary sponsor is expected to maintain such grant support during the project period. Grants under a no-cost extension do not qualify.

Reminder to NCI F32 Fellowship Awardees: Transfers, Changes in the Primary Sponsor and Changes in the Project:

Individual NCI F32 fellowship awards are made for training at a specific institution under the guidance of a particular sponsor. NCI approval is required for a transfer of the award to another institution, a change in the primary sponsor or a significant project change. If the primary sponsor plans to be absent for a continuous period of more than 3 months, an interim sponsor must be named by the institution and approved in writing by NCI.

or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence and possess an Alien Registration Receipt Card (1-151 or 1-551) or some other verification of legal admission as a permanent resident.

Citizenship or green card is not needed to apply. Citizenship or green card is needed at the time of award issuance.

Foreign Nationals with Student Visas

Not eligible for this award

Degree/Academic Appointment

Postdoctoral and Clinical Fellows

Geographic Location

F32 Fellows may request support for training abroad; clear scientific justification is required, including the reasons why the facilities, the sponsor, and/or other aspects of the proposed experience are more appropriate than training in a domestic setting.

When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions.

Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Application Receipt Dates and Review Schedule

Receipt Cycle

Receipt Date: Application, Resubmission

Initial Review Date

Council Review Date

Earliest Possible Start Date*

1

April 8

June/July

September/October

December

2

August 8

October/November

January/February

April

3

December 8

February/March

May/June

July

* Start dates are determined by the availability of NCI funds and may not occur until well after the earliest possible start date.

Applications are due by 5pm local time.

When a standard submission date falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.

Review and Selection Process

The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) review applications for completeness and for conformance to all eligibility requirements and special provisions and requirements. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration.

For review criteria for the F32 grant mechanism, see the Review Criteria section of the Program Announcement.